Getting The Word To China

The nondenominational, Christian magazine Daily Word is being distributed to people in China for the first time, thanks to Boynton Beach resident Dan DeCarlo.

Published by Unity, a worldwide movement of prayer, publishing and education based in Unity Village, Mo., near Kansas City, the monthly magazine has been in existence since 1924.

DeCarlo, a member of Unity of Delray Beach, worked for about a year to get the publication printed in an English-Chinese version.

Earlier this month, he spent a week in the Shandong Province cities of Jinan, the capital, and Qufu, distributing the magazine to about 50 area churches at no cost.

Located 300 miles northwest of Shanghai, Qufu has a population of 650,000 and is Boynton Beach's official Sister City.

"The first issue was 5,000 copies, and everyone there was very excited about having a monthly magazine in English and Chinese. They want us to expand beyond the 5,000 copies each month, so we're taking it one step at a time," said DeCarlo, 53, who has traveled to China more than 20 times during the past nine years and has two adopted Chinese daughters, Katie, 10, and Emily, 13.

"Five thousand copies might not seem like a large amount, but we're told one copy is read by six to eight people. There is a tremendous desire there for people to be able to learn English, and they have very little material," he said.

The pocket-size publication, which features articles by guest authors, Bible verses, inspirational passages and practical ideas, is similar to the one printed in the United States.

"We've changed the cover of the publication and made some changes to the contents. [The Chinese] need to feel they have ownership of the publication," said DeCarlo, a former employee of the city of Boynton Beach Planning Department.

The cost of printing, about $1,000, and production, $500 to $700 for the English-Chinese version, is paid for by Dan's foundation, called the Kongdan Foundation, which is supported by private donations. Unity in Missouri provides him with the English version, and he gets the Chinese translation done.

Unity of Delray senior minister the Rev. Nancy Norman, of Boynton Beach, said she expected a positive reception from the Chinese people. The local church is one of 900 Unity congregations worldwide.

"I can see it going to 1 million copies eventually. People are thirsting for a positive spiritual thought," said Norman, who traveled to Qufu with DeCarlo and a group from the congregation almost a year ago.

DeCarlo and Unity have worked with the Christian Church Association in Qufu and the Chinese government to have the publication disseminated in China. "It's been a real process for the people of Unity Village. They have been trying to get into China with the Daily Word for probably 10 to 15 years," said DeCarlo, who helped bring a delegation from Qufu to the United States in 2000, 2001 and 2004. "There has been some easing of restrictions in China."

The Daily Word is the magazine of Unity's prayer ministry program, Silent Unity.

"We work with 19 affiliate re-printers throughout the world. The magazine is printed in eight different languages, but the Chinese version is the only issue in both English and another language," said Lynne Brown, Silent Unity vice president.

DeCarlo, a member of Unity for 10 years, said receiving approval to distribute the publication in the Shandong Province is a major step forward. "It's a very big deal. Qufu is the birthplace of Confucius and has been the religious center of China for over 1,000 years," said DeCarlo, who has had books published about Chinese history, culture and religion. "Other churches that have come into China are more Bible based and have a more difficult time. Unity could do what a typical Christian church couldn't do because we don't use missionaries."

Norman says DeCarlo's background helped. "Dan had this beautiful idea, and he never gave up. You really have to understand the Chinese culture and he does," she said.

The English version of the Daily Word has a monthly readership of about 1 million, and about 90,000 copies are published internationally each month, Brown said. The publication is distributed in such countries as Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Portugal and Venezuela.

"We've worked with Dan very closely. He has a great passion for China and great wisdom. Dan shared with the people of China, and the message spoke to their hearts," said Lois Cheatham, coordinator of Silent Unity International. "China is ready to receive the message Unity has to offer, and we are thrilled to be able to be there."